it rained one night in the city

it rained one night in the city

hoods flipped up like shuffling cards

umbrellas unfurled, newspapers and purses and arms arched over

ducked heads perched beneath heavy awnings in front

of yellow warm windows

it rained one night in the city

when a young woman pulled herself up from the edge of a tower

one lit with LEDs and moonsilver steel

she had thought about letting go

she had had one finger left

it rained one night in the city

when a young woman dangled so nimbly

trying to lose control and not quite letting

she hauled herself up and fell onto her back

she stood and pressed herself against the railing again

and looked down down at those far below streets

it rained one night in the city

when a young woman cried painful tears

so tight and rough and stinging

like dawn-lit winter waves

and they fell with the weight of death’s judgement

balancing those tipping scales

it rained one night in the city

and as the sidewalk ran slick

and highways glowed neon

and windshield wipers flicked

and the world below floated on

a young woman wobbled down the stairs, all rained out